The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-02
THE BIG EXPRESS ROBBERY.
Fotheringham's Innocence Again Asserted
The Prisoners Tnrned Over to the Law.

The Prisoners Turned Over to the Law.
ST.. LOUIS Jan. 1.-The letter addressed to
the Globe Democrat by ''Jim Cummings on
Dec. o. 1886, which Detective Pinkerson found
among Fred Wittrocks effects in Leavenworth,
Kan, is published this morning. 1t concludes
as follows
You have no idea what IL is to have the whole ma
chinery Of Pnkertons force at work to hunt
up To show you for Instance the fearful expense
and thoroughness to which Pinkerton resorts, will
simply say that no one in Kansas City St Joseph
Topeka Kan, could buy a copy of the ST. Louis
paper of the issue which contained account of the
receipt of the four packages mailed to them from
Topeka without being followed to their houses or
questioned by in the employ of some detect
i've agency -Pinkerton, / suppose. So, Mr.. Editor
don't give them too hard rub for they are work
ing like Sam Hill, but they will find
clew long they keep thinking Fotheringham
had hand in the robbery. As this Is probably the
from me- would like to state the following and,
whether you the public believe it. don't
very much as suppose the more say Fotheringham
isinnocent the Pinkerton and his gang will be-
eve him guilty but I'll just say the following any
how: had always been taught. when l kid.
that there was a Supreme Power that this earth
and all things upon it. and still believe that such
power exists, and hereby declare that hope that
that Power Supreme Being may paralyze me in
every limb in my body, and make the balance of my
life this earth one of everlasting pain, If that
David Fotheringham the uessenger-s not innocent
e in fo
the St Louis & San Francisco railroad.
Yours truly, jim CUMMINGS.
The Adams Express Company robbers are at
last beginning to turn up in this city. This
morning Robert A. Pinkerton and Superintend-
ent Damsel, of tho Adams Express Company,
having in charge Fred Wittrock, arrived from
Kansas City, and Assistant Superintendent Rob
ertson, Of the pinkerton agency, brought the &C
Mi frnv,o t.
well known that Pinkerton his way to
this city with Wittrock, and when the train
rived there was a large and curious crowd at the
station. anxious to catch glimpse of the
famous Jim Cummings" Mr. PinkertOn aided
his prisoner from the car, and, followed by Mr..
Damsel, they entered carriage and were driven
rapidly to the Four Courts, where the prisoner
was delivered over to Jailer Siegmund.
who took him in charge. and Jim
Cummings" was at last placed behind the
bars. Dock Robertson also took his prisoner
TO the Four Courts. where he was given into the
custody of the local police and Immediately
placed in jail
AS soon AS the prisoners were released from
the clutches of the Pinkertons it became posi-
bic TO obtain interviews with them but neither
had much to say Wittrock said that he and
Haight had planned the robbery, and all the
stories about Mrs. Haight having done the head
work was mere talk, and nothing more. Fother-
ingham had known nothing about the contem-
plated robbery. and suspected nothing wrong
after he (Wittrock) had entered the until he
was thrown down and disarmed Il have moth
ing more to say about the affair present." con-
tinued Wittrock, ''but l am preparing a state
ment, and will make it public in day or two. y
Weaver, when asked by reporter to give his
version Of the robbery. replied that he had moth
ing whatever to say.
After giving over their prisoners to the police,
Mr.. Pinkerton and dock" Robertson proceeded
20 the Southern Hotel The former, while eat
ing his breakfast talked freely to a reporter
about his connection with the case. and said:
1--WE have nearly completed the work now, and
have turned up the larger part of tho money,
about $50, 000 We have not added up ali of our
finds, but those figures pretty nearly cor
rect. There are still 81 900 $1,000 out, and
we expect to recover the greater part of it. My
Srother Billy and some of our agents are looking
that Ip now. So, you see, the express company
are not very heavy losers, after all. The major
portion OF the money was found under Oscar
Cooks house, in the East Bottoms at Kansas
City. Cook was an accessory after the fact, and
II convicted, can be made to serve a good term
IN the penitentiary. No. Mrs Haight
knew nothing about the robbery until after
its commission, and she has not even been
arrested yet. Wittrock and Haight were the
who did the planning. Weaver was the
man who weakened at the last moment He
to ride on the front platform of the express
car, and was to give warning of any approach
ing danger. but he backed out He knew the
robbery had been committed, however. anc
Wittrock had to put up SO, 900 to induce hin
to keep his mouth shut All of that money ha.
been recovered, except a few dollars which h,
spent.'
When asked why the other prisoners had not
been brought here. he said there was more
money to he turned up" yet and they wer'
aiding in the search for it. They will all b,
here In time for the trial. though" said the de
tective, "and that comes on, you know, one weel
from next Monday"
Later in the day Wittrock related his story o
the robbery substantially as follow:
boarded the train at the depot, and presented tn
letters to Fotheringham. was the train when
stopped by the rock on the track. but it no
good place to get off. l loft it at crossing thi
side Of Pacific. Mo-, and walked about eight te
miles the country to the Missouri river, wher
! had skff waiting. reached the river before day
light. and came down about eigh. miles sand bal
l ate my breakfast the bar and abou
the next day passed st. Charles. left tn
boat below st. Charles and walked across the cour
try about ten miles to ST. Peters where took trai
to Louisiana Mo. l arrived there about mdnigh
and left the next afternoon, going to Kansas City.
stayed at Kansas City five six weeks. I did nc
sop at Cooks. i laid up with rheumatisr
caught while in the boat and the sand-ba
About Dec. / started South. and went to Savannah
Ga. and loafed around there q couple of weeks
went through Vicksburg and Atlanta. Then 1 cam
hack f0 CEicaQn was